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Bythistimetheyeomanryofthedistrictwerealsoonthemove，andamongthemFestusDerriman，whowassleepingathisuncle’s，andhadbeenawakenedbyCripplestraw。AboutthetimewhenBobandhisfatherweredescendingfromthebeaconthestalwartyeomanwasstandinginthestable-yardadjustinghisstraps，whileCripplestrawsaddledthehorse。Festusclankedupanddown，lookedgloomilyatthebeacon，heardtheretreatingcartsandcarriages，andcalledCripplestrawtohim，whocamefromthestableleadingthehorseatthesamemomentthatUncleBenjypeepedunobservedfromamullionedwindowabovetheirheads，thedistantlightofthebeaconfiretouchinguphisfeaturestothecomplexionofanoldbrassclock-face。
’IthinkthatbeforeIstart，Cripplestraw，’saidFestus，whoseluridvisagewasundergoingableachingprocesscurioustolookupon，’youshallgoontoBudmouth，andmakeaboldinquirywhetherthecowardlyenemyisonshoreasyet，oronlyloominginthebay。’
’I’dgoinamoment，sir，’saidtheother，’ifIhadn’tmybadlegagain。Ishouldhavejoinedmycompanyaforethis；buttheysaidatlastdrillthatIwastooold。SoIshallwaitupinthehay-loftfortidingsassoonasIhavepackedyouoff，poorgentleman！’
’Dosuchalarmsasthese，Cripplestraw，everhappenwithoutfoundation？Buonaparteisawretch，amiserablewretch，andthismaybeonlyafalsealarmtodisappointsuchasme？’
’Ono，sir；Ono！’
’Butsometimestherearefalsealarms？’
’Well，sir，yes。Therewasapretendedsallyo’gunboatslastyear。’
’Andwastherenothingelsepretended——somethingmorelikethis，forinstance？’
Cripplestrawshookhishead。’Inoticeyermodesty，Mr。Festus，inmakinglightofthings。Butthereneverwas，sir。Youmaydependuponithe’scome。ThankGod，mydutyasaLocaldon’trequiremetogotothefront，butonlythevaliantmenlikemymaster。Ah，ifBoneycouldonlysee’eenow，sir，he’dknowtoowellthereisnothingtobegotfromsuchadeterminedskilfulofficerbutblowsandmusket-balls！’
’Yes，yes。Cripplestraw，ifIrideofftoBudmouthandmeet’em，allmytrainingwillbelost。Noskillisrequiredasaforlornhope。’
’True；that’sapoint，sir。Youwouldoutshine’emall，andbepickedoffattheverybeginningasatoo-dangerousbraveman。’
’ButifIstayhereandurgeonthefaint-heartedones，orgetupintotheturret-stairbythatgateway，andpopattheinvadersthroughtheloophole，Ishouldn’tbesocompletelywasted，shouldI？’
’Youwouldnot，Mr。Derriman。But，asyouwasgoingtosaynext，thefireinyerveinswon’tletyedothat。Youarevaliant；verygood:youdon’twanttohusbandyervalianceathome。Thearg’mentisplain。’
’Ifmybirthhadbeenmoreobscure，’murmuredtheyeoman，’andIhadonlybeeninthemilitia，forinstance，oramongthehumblepikemen，somuchwouldn’thavebeenexpectedofme——ofmyfierynature。
Cripplestraw，isthereadropofbrandytobegotatinthehouse？
Idon’tfeelverywell。’
’Dearnephew，’saidtheoldgentlemanfromabove，whomneitheroftheothershadasyetnoticed，’Ihaven’tanyspiritsopened——sounfortunate！Butthere’sabeautifulbarrelofcrab-appleciderindraught；andthere’ssomecoldteafromlastnight。’
’What，ishelistening？’saidFestus，staringup。’NowIwarranthowgladheistoseemeforcedtogo——calledoutofbedwithoutbreakfast，andhequitesafe，andsuretoescapebecausehe’sanoldman！——Cripplestraw，Ilikebeingintheyeomanrycavalry；butIwishIhadn’tbeenintheranks；IwishIhadbeenonlythesurgeon，tostayintherearwhilethebodiesarebroughtbacktohim——Imean，I
shouldhavethrownmyheartatsuchatimeasthismoreintothelabourofrestoringwoundedmenandjoiningtheirshatteredlimbstogether——u-u-ugh！——morethanIcanintocausingthewounds——Iamtoohumane，Cripplestraw，fortheranks！’
’Yes，yes，’saidhiscompanion，depressinghisspiritstoakindredlevel。’Andyet，suchisfate，that，insteadofjoiningmen’slimbstogether，you’llhavetogetyourownjoined——pooryoungsojer！——allthroughhavingsuchawarlikesoul。’
’Yes，’murmuredFestus，andpaused。’Youcan’tthinkhowstrangeI
feelhere，Cripplestraw，’hecontinued，layinghishanduponthecentrebuttonsofhiswaistcoat。’HowIdowishIwasonlythesurgeon！’
Heslowlymounted，andUncleBenjy，inthemeantime，sangtohimselfashelookedon，’TWEN-TY-THREEANDHALFFROMN。W。SIX-TEENAND
THREE-QUAR-TERSFROMN。E。’
’What’sthatoldmummysinging？’saidFestussavagely。
’Onlyahymnforpreservationfromourenemies，dearnephew，
